Nigeria Situation Report - May 2026

Country: Nigeria Source: United Nations Population Fund Please refer to the attached file. In May 2026, Nigeria faced a multifaceted humanitarian crisis characterized by protracted conflict, environmental disasters, and a severe cholera outbreak, all of which disproportionately affected women and adolescent girls. The country grappled with volatile security across the North-East and North-West, including windstorms that damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted health services, while persistent banditry and communal tensions strained rural health access and displaced person camps. Compounding these operational challenges, a cholera epidemic in Borno State resulted in 2,918 cases and 27 deaths by late May, driven by unsafe water and hindered by overcrowded treatment centres and critical supply shortages. Because women and girls often bear the primary responsibility for water collection and caregiving, they remain at heightened risk for both disease transmission and gender-based violence (GBV), making urgent priorities the expansion of treatment capacity, improved sanitation, and the mobilization of resources to support these vulnerable populations. Through an integrated network of 60 health facilities, 34 women and girls’ safe spaces, youth spaces, and one-stop centres, UNFPA’s multi-sectoral intervention delivered essential sexual and reproductive health services to nearly 18,500 people while ensuring 100% of sexual violence survivors received medical care within 72 hours. Additionally, UNFPA reached 12,806 people with GBV prevention, mitigation, and response services, including psychosocial support, legal assistance, and specialized case management, while empowering over 12,000 youth through life skills training, vocational development, and civic engagement projects. Amidst the insecurity, health, and climate emergencies, Nigeria’s humanitarian response has prioritized localization to sustain community-level outreach, yet a severe funding predicament remains: a 93% funding gap against the required US $11.9 million appeal.

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